WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Chen
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◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈
Chapter 130: The Black Flame Dragon Who Steals an Opportunity (5)
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‘Why did I have to make such a fool of myself...?’
I hadn't needed to fast to that extent.
It would've been enough to show up looking a little haggard without overdoing it. Instead, I'd pushed myself for the sake of a dramatic entrance, and things had ended up like this.
“What are you doing? Get up.”
Jegal Somyeong was already prepared to leave at once.
“No, why exactly do I have to spar?”
“Didn't I just say that your dantian...?”
“That doesn't explain why you're so shameless after examining someone else's dantian.”
Jegal Somyeong rubbed their chin and fell into thought at my words.
It seemed they didn't know why they had acted that way either.
A moment later, as though that brilliant mind of theirs had reached a conclusion, they said, “Because I can?”
“Haa...”
It was morally wrong to do such a thing, but the world did not always follow common sense. Besides, it was equally absurd for a mere Taeul Sect disciple to punish the Martial Alliance's Grand Strategist and the Jegal Clan's Supreme Clan Head.
‘Still, isn't it pathetic to be so brazen about it?’
Jegal Somyeong looked at my face.
“Judging by your expression, you aren't convinced.”
“Do you think that counted as persuasion?”
“It usually does.”
“...”
I had never imagined I would get into such an absurd argument with Jegal Somyeong, the Greatest Mind Under Heaven.
Could this person be a demonic martial artist wearing Jegal Somyeong's skin?
“Do you still believe you have nothing to gain from me? I am the Martial Alliance's Grand Strategist, while you are a student of the Martial Arts Academy.
“Tens of thousands of people within the Martial Alliance wait for a chance to speak with me even once. Thousands sell homes grand enough to be called palaces and scatter bribes just to demonstrate their martial arts before me.
“Yet you would refuse when I am offering you two such opportunities?”
That was something only bastards obsessed with getting ahead would do. Why would I need to impress the Grand Strategist when I knew the Martial Alliance would be reduced to ruins in the future and relocate to the Northern Sea?
“Yes.”
“Hehe.”
My firm refusal seemed to catch Jegal Somyeong off guard. They grabbed their chin again and sank into thought.
All I wanted was for them to leave.
My essence, qi, and spirit might have been intact, but I had practically gone without food for days. I wanted nothing more than to eat something delicious and sleep to my heart's content.
But contrary to my wishes, Jegal Somyeong was... persistent.
“Then how about this? You applied for a martial arts instructor from the Ghost Bow Sect, didn't you?”
Since Moyong Jaehwa had decided to abandon the sword and take up the bow, I had established a special class so someone could teach him the fundamentals, even if it was a path he could walk alone.
“I should cancel that.”
“...”
“Oh, and that second event you are planning, the special guest instructor who will teach the White Tiger Sword Formation... I should cancel that as well.”
“What do you mean? The White Tiger Sword Formation is already an official Martial Alliance sword formation.”
They would learn it once they were assigned to the Martial Alliance anyway, but I had planned to teach the Martial Alliance's White Tiger Sword Formation beforehand so I could teach them the version I knew.
Jegal Somyeong nodded.
“That is true, but spending the budget to make Academy students learn such a useless sword formation feels wasteful.”
“...”
“And the third event you planned, inviting ritualists from the Mount Mao Sect and Hyeongsan Sect...”
“!”
I had prepared that event in case we had to face the Corpse Mountain Blood Cult.
Even beyond that, it was an important event that could save thousands of martial artists when we fought demonic martial artists in the future.
It was not simply a matter of the Martial Arts Academy students' lives.
Most Academy students would become Alliance officials. If they could not deal with dark arts, the lower-ranking martial artists beneath them would be the ones to die. I had prepared the event to prevent even greater losses.
“I submitted the budget request according to proper regulations and procedures. Abolishing an approved budget because of personal feelings is unfair.”
“I know.”
“What?”
“I said I know. Even so, I am the one who can do something unfair, and you are the one who must accept it.”
Jegal Somyeong pointed at themself, then at me.
At that moment, I wished Jegal Somyeong truly was a demonic martial artist.
Then I could break that damned finger without worrying that the Taeul Sect would be destroyed or my martial brothers imprisoned in the Golden Prison.
“Haa... Fine. I'll do it.”
“Good. Let's go.”
“But I have a condition.”
“A condition?”
“Yes.”
“Didn't I just say you are not in a position to set conditions?”
Their tone was as firm as if they were explaining that water flowed downhill.
Still, taking this lying down did not suit my nature at all.
“You want to see my true ability, don't you?”
“...”
“As you said, I may not be good at acting, but I can deceive people well enough. Would you be satisfied if I fought halfheartedly and lost?”
“What do you want?”
“The Mantong Office has Demon-Subduing Divine Wood, doesn't it?”
“...What?”
“Give it to me.”
“Do you even know what that is?”
“...It's not as if you have any use for it.”
Demon-Subduing Divine Wood came from a pillar of a sacred temple.
When a temple was completely burned by thunder and lightning, its spiritual energy would gather in the last remaining piece of wood.
It could not be made deliberately in the first place, but since no one currently knew how to use it, it was not particularly valuable.
“...”
“You would use it for something like making a signboard at most, wouldn't you?”
Demon-Subduing Divine Wood itself possessed potent talismanic properties that protected the mind.
The wood itself was not very large, and once the charred portions were removed, there would not be much left.
Still, if I asked the Hyeongsan Sect Taoists to perform an exorcism ritual and turn it into talismans, it would surely have a tremendous effect in future battles against demonic martial artists.
“What do you intend to use it for?”
“...There is something I wish to make.”
Jegal Somyeong pretended to consider it for a moment.
But I knew it was an obvious act. Despite its imposing name, Demon-Subduing Divine Wood was not currently such a precious item.
Just as I expected, Jegal Somyeong nodded after a moment.
“Fine. But if you lose to your opponent, you will not receive it.”
I was confident no matter who they brought before me among those my age, so I answered without hesitation.
“Understood.”
“Let's go.”
“Wait a moment...”
“...What now?”
“Can't I eat first? I'm feeling a little dizzy.”
“...”
#
“Why do you look like that? You look as though someone has treated you unfairly again.”
I had roughly expected them to bring out one of the Academy students.
Even if it wasn't some random nobody, I thought it might be a disciple from the Nine Sects One Gang, or perhaps Ilgak, who seemed to hold a grudge against me over the Soul-Destroying Formation.
“Isn't this unfair?”
When I arrived at the training ground beside the dormitory, I could only frown at the man in his mid-thirties.
There was nothing remarkable about the aura he gave off.
But that also meant he was skilled enough to conceal his aura.
“Do you know who that man is?”
“No.”
That was the real problem.
I had never seen his face or movements before.
If I had to name someone whose movements resembled his, it would be the Martial Alliance Leader. Yet this man was far too young, and his build and habits were entirely different.
“Still, I can tell from the calluses on his palms and his flawless aura that he is beyond my ability to face.”
“You are clever. Surely you can think of a way to win.”
Jegal Somyeong's words nearly drove me mad.
“How clever would I have to be for a rabbit to defeat a tiger?”
Jegal Somyeong simply nodded.
See? My instincts were dead on.
“Fine. I will give you the Demon-Subduing Divine Wood even if you only manage a draw.”
“I already told you. Please bring someone I can actually fight.”
“Start already. Keep grumbling, and I will tell that man to teach you a proper lesson.”
Jegal Somyeong waved their hand as they spoke.
With no other choice, I drew the Black Dragon Sword, stepped forward, and gave a fist-and-palm salute.
“Please instruct me.”
“...”
The man only nodded without answering.
He seemed quite taciturn.
When I took the opening stance of the Lesser Heaven Sword Art, he stepped back and lowered his sword.
It was an opening stance I had never seen before.
He had to belong to the Martial Alliance if he was here on the Grand Strategist's orders. That made it even more surprising that he used a martial art unfamiliar to me.
“Come.”
At his words, I cleared my mind, closed the shortest distance between us, and unleashed the Lesser Heaven Sword Art.
Swish.
The Lesser Heaven Sword Art, carrying Seven Stars of my internal energy, shot forward like a streak of light with the essence of ultimate speed.
Clang!
As the man raised the sword he had held low, he knocked aside the Lesser Heaven Sword Art.
I pulled back the Black Dragon Sword and thrust out the Lesser Heaven Sword Art again.
Swish.
The philtrum, solar plexus, and groin.
I unleashed strikes aimed at the three places a person could not help but react to at once. Yet the man took only two steps back and neutralized the Lesser Heaven Sword Art in a single breath.
“Sharp.”
“Is that so? Then I'll continue. I have something I need to receive from the Grand Strategist.”
Using the force of withdrawing the Lesser Heaven Sword Art, I spun once and scattered the Greater Heaven Sword Art.
More than ten illusion swords formed around the Black Dragon Sword, sealing off every direction around the man.
Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang!
The man took five more steps back and swung his sword five times.
It was exactly the number of real blades hidden among the illusion swords.
Vrrr.
The Black Dragon Sword, forged from incomparably sturdy Vajra Indestructible Iron, trembled in my hand.
That meant the sword he carried was also a treasured blade, no less impressive than the Black Dragon Sword.
“You have a fine sword.”
“It is more than I deserve. But yours seems no less impressive, sir.”
“So it is... more than I deserve.”
A smile touched the man's lips.
“I gave you three moves. It is time to fight properly now, isn't it?”
I had wondered why he showed almost no reaction. It seemed he had been conceding three moves on his own.
“If you truly cherish your junior, shouldn't you concede ten moves?”
The man looked at Jegal Somyeong for a moment, then shook his head.
“I cannot forgive making a wager over a spar with me.”
“The Grand Strategist certainly has a loose tongue. How do you plan to handle important affairs-ah!”
Clang!
Before I could finish speaking, the man vanished with a sharp burst and appeared before me, swinging his sword.
I desperately raised the Lesser Heaven Sword Art to full power and defended myself, while trying to identify the origin of his sword art.
If the Grand Strategist had called him here, he had to be one of the masters of the Nine Sects One Gang or Five Great Clans.
Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang!
The man's sword was incredibly fast.
It was not quite as fast as when I pushed the Lesser Heaven Sword Art to its limit, but it was still quick enough to be called a swift sword.
Yet it did not pare its sword paths down to an extreme as swift swords usually did.
It looked like an awkward sword art that was neither one thing nor the other. But every move came for my vital points, and blood was already flowing from several places on my body.
Swish.
Another sword came to sever my neck. Even if I blocked it with my sword, the next linked move would surely follow, so I stepped back with the Taeul Eighty Thousand Divine Steps.
As I left behind an afterimage and retreated five steps, his sword cleanly severed the afterimage's neck and right arm.
“An interesting movement art.”
“It is a secret movement art of my sect, recovered after five hundred years.”
“Is that so?”
The man did not seem particularly surprised as he moved again.
Despite his leisurely tone, his body was faster than before.
When I swung the Black Dragon Sword at his blade, an enormous recoil surged through my arm.
Bang!
I was driven back three steps by the force, while he remained where he stood and simply looked at me.
‘I have no idea.’
We had already exchanged over ten moves, and I had tried to trace the origins of his sword art, but I could not identify its foundation at all.
Still, it was not quite enough to say he had reached the realm of enlightenment where one abandoned forms altogether.
I had seen several people from the Demonic Cult reach such heights, but those people possessed an overwhelming presence.
The man before me did not have anything overwhelming about him. His presence was faint, if anything.
‘His presence is faint?’
Being fast without relying on swift-sword techniques meant he moved efficiently.
The fact that his footsteps were quiet despite moving at lightning speed meant his usual footwork was light.
Swish, swish, swish!
The sharp sword that had attacked before now split into seven and stabbed toward my fatal acupoints.
A sword art whose origins remained unknown.
But I had begun to see clues, enough to make a guess.
‘I think I understand now.’
The Twin Heavens Sword Art poured from my hand.
Dozens of sword shadows bloomed chaotically before me, then shot straight toward the man's sword.
He faced them with only seven blades, but he showed no fear.
Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang!
Seven clashes rang out in an instant, and I retreated another five steps.
“I heard that the Black Flame Dragon does not know how to retreat.”
He lowered his sword again as he spoke.
“That rumor has been exaggerated. I like retreating from time to time. Of course, I make sure my opponent pays for it.”
“What?”
Flutter.
Before the man could realize it, the tie of his clothes was cut, and his martial uniform split open.
“...”
The man looked rather surprised. He bent his knees, as though he were about to spring forward.
Considering he had not shown such a posture even once until now, he intended to get serious.
I quickly raised my hand.
“May I ask one question?”
“Can it not wait until after the spar?”
“It concerns the spar as well.”
“...What is it?”
When he paused, I spoke.
“Are you part of the Alliance Leader’s Hall?”
“...”
His movements did not falter, and his expression did not change.
But his eyes shook violently.
Footnotes:
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